News

Impey fights to 13th place in Critérium du Dauphiné timetrial as Yates remains in overall contention

Wed 7 Jun 2017

ORICA-SCOTT finished with two riders in the top 20 on today’s stage four, individual time trial in Critérium du Dauphiné.

South African time trial champion Daryl Impey produced a solid ride to finish in 13th place with overall contender Simon Yates in 19th.

In his first race back after suffering from a broken collarbone, Impey posted the fastest time half way through proceedings and eventually finished with a respectable placing in the individual time trial event, despite having no expectations.

“I actually didn't come into today really expecting much,” Impey explained. “It was more to see how I feel coming back from a broken collarbone in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.”

“It was great course. There was quite a bit of everything for an all rounder. It had a technical aspect and a few little climbs. There was also big power sections on the back straight.

“I didn't know what to expect. I just rode the best I could go. I started to feel good out there. I paced it well. I think overall it was a good ride.”

General classification contenderYates posted a time of 29minutes and 10seconds, just one minute and three seconds down on the final stage winner Richie Porte (BMC) to remain in contention overall with key stages still to come.

Two-time grand tour podium finisher Esteban Chaves crossed the line two-minutes and 14seconds behind, which sport director Laurenzo Lapage expected in this kind of event after having a lengthy period away from racing.

“Today we saw confirmation from the team that they are all on the level that we expect at the moment,” Lapage said. “The guys that have come back from injury did a good time trial, like with Esteban, he was one minute further down than he would probably be compared to when he is at his best and that’s normal, we expected that when he hasn’t raced for so long.”

“Yates will now be in a good position on the GC and with him being a bit further back, other teams may give him some freedom in the mountain and we can profit from that.

“He showed once again that he is one of the guys coming up and for sure he can do well during the next days.”

How it happened:

The fourth stage of the tour featured a 23.5kilometre individual time trial and provided the first real test for the general classification contenders.

Impey was the first rider down the ramp for ORICA-SCOTT and set the fastest time, half way through proceeding’s with a time of 29minutes and two seconds.

Impey sat in the hot seat while Howson and Jack Haig finished their efforts, stopping the clock for the fourth and fifth best times but with still 45riders left to start.

Tony Martin was the next rider to set the bench mark with a time of 28minutes and 19seconds as the final competetors began their effort.

In the end it wasn’t enough as Porte blasted around the course 12seconds faster to take the day’s victory and cause a shake up in the overall standings.